THE REAL COST OF THE BAUCUS BILL: MORE THAN $2 TRILLION

The Congressional Budget Office last week calculated that the health care reform legislation proposed by Sen. Max Baucus would cost $829 billion over the next decade, and lower the deficit. However, Cato scholar Michael D. Tanner cautions, "The CBO scoring makes it clear that the Baucus bill's reduction in future budget deficits comes not from controlling government spending or reducing health care costs, but because of a rapid escalation in tax revenues." In reality, says Michael F. Cannon, "The Baucus bill will not reduce the deficit, and it would ultimately cost taxpayers more than $2 trillion--just like every other bill Congress has produced so far."

* "Despite New Deficit-Cutting Claim, Baucus Bill Is Just Tax-and-Spend," by Michael D. Tanner
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10622

* "Grading the Baucus Health Plan," by Michael D. Tanner
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10549

* Healthcare.Cato.org
http://healthcare.cato.org/